Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Ghazi Hamad

 

May 10, 2018

 

The subject : THE DAY OF NAKBA and THE MARCH OF RETURNE

 

The Palestinian Nakba\catastrophe anniversary falls on the 15^th of May, where the Palestinian people commemorate 70 years of occupying Palestine and their expulsion from their original homes, villages and towns, it is also an anniversary to remember the heinous crimes and massacres committed against the Palestinian people in order to push them out of their residences.

 

Since that time, the Palestinian people lived and continue to live under occupation as well as living in exodus in refugee camps in different countries. And still, Israel’s systemic Judaizing of Palestine, and Jerusalem in particular, is continued unabated; this is clearly shown from the measures taken by the Israeli authorities like expropriating of Palestinian properties and lands, destruction of the houses of Palestinians and altering Jerusalem\Al-Quds demographic status and voiding it from its native inhabitants only to replace them with colonialists. Not forgetting their Apartheid policies of killings, assassinations, policy of imprisoning, separating the Palestinian cities and villages from each other by military check-points which are another story of humiliation and oppression.

 

The situation of Palestinian refugees in their camps outside Palestine is at least as bad as the Palestinians living in the Palestinian occupied territory, living in a complete misery and hardship.

 

There are many UN resolutions that call for the protection of the Palestinian people as well as finding just solution to the Palestinian plight according to the international law but the Israeli arrogance continued because of the International community failure or inability to oblige Israel from abiding by their responsibilities.

 

The Palestinian people tried over the years of occupation to achieve their legitimate national goals by all means including the political and diplomatic efforts, the Palestinians expected from the International community to bear its responsibility but in vain.

 

Over the last months, peaceful and popular Return marches were organized to send a message of demanding the right of return, ending the 12-year-old blockade and to live in dignity on their lands, but once again, the Israeli Occupation Forces are responding savagely to such peaceful protests near the fence on Gaza eastern borders, where over the last five weeks they killed tens of Palestinians most of them were children who didn’t pose any threat to the Israeli soldiers\snipers. This was clearly seen by many videos taken during the protests; Israel intentionally aimed and killed peaceful protesters, as well as injuring thousands of civilians.

 

Mr.

 

On the occasion of the 70^th anniversary of Palestinian Nakba\Catastrophe, the Palestinian people are determined to continue such peaceful gatherings demanding the total lift of the unjust and inhumane blockade and to end the occupation, therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls upon the international community and all stakeholders to move to put an end to the Israeli acts of aggression and terrorism, to stop such atrocities against unarmed civilians protesting in a peaceful form and help the Palestinians to get rid of the long-lasting occupation.

 

Your support and stand with the Palestinian people is that you are siding right and justice as well as siding the right of people to self-determination.

 

Sincerely

Dr. Ghazi Hamad

Deputy Minister

Ministry of Foreign Affairs